EXCLUSIVE: CBS has ordered a pilot for a daytime cooking game show starring Emeril Lagasse. The untitled project, produced from FremantleMedia, will be filmed in front of a live audience and will feature members of the studio audience competing against each other for a prize in preparing a dish under the supervision of the famous TV chef. The pilot, based on an original concept, is eyed as a replacement for CBS’ departing daytime soap As The World Turns. Also vying for World’s 2 PM time slot in the fall are two other pilots recently greenlighted by the network, a View-type daytime panel talk show executive produced by Tom Forman and Sara Gilbert and starring Gilbert and Julie Chen, and a reboot of the classic game show Pyramid. “CBS is trying to recalibrate its daytime,” a source says. “The potential for there to be more than one time slot is very good.”

19 Comments

Sounds really exciting! I’ll be sure to forget to set my DVR for this drivel…

Ryan • on May 5, 2010 5:46 pm

I smell trouble for B&B, Y&R – do those shows even make money anymore?

DeVares • on May 5, 2010 5:46 pm

I don’t think B&B and Y&R are in any danger of being cancelled anytime soon seeing as they are #1 and #2 on Daytime TV.

John B. • on May 5, 2010 5:46 pm

CBS doesn’t own those shows and they’re losing money on them every year, hence the constant budget slashes.

Y&R is losing viewers every year and B&B’s 18-49 female demo is bottom of the barrel.

I WOULD be worried if I worked on either one of those shows.

D • on May 5, 2010 5:46 pm

A cooking game show. Sounds like some one has really thought this one out, huh?

Nanea • on May 5, 2010 5:46 pm

And the loser(s) will be pelted with overripe tomatoes?

Seriously: hope they’re going to have a good insurance so they can deal with e.g. knife-related injuries or micro-burns from having to work with hot oil.

People who only watch cooking shows have no idea about a real-life kitchen, and those who like to cook on a regular base very sadly won’t have time to watch.

wamdue • on May 5, 2010 5:46 pm

sounds like “Ready Steady Cook” to me.

Pippy • on May 5, 2010 5:46 pm

I’d prefer to watch ATWT than this dreck. Hey Les, keep the soap you moron.

Chris H • on May 5, 2010 5:46 pm

I hope it’s a good as his sitcom was!

jannonymous • on May 5, 2010 5:46 pm

Maybe someone in the future will come up with some kind of ground breaking SCRIPTED concept for daytime television.

As a soap fan who loved Guiding Light and As the World Turns, I can see the flaws in the way it’s done now. Soaps never modernized. They stayed in their same format that was developed in the 50s. The reason people think they suck, is because they are spread to thin creatively. Think, you’ve got a show that has to come up with an One-Hour episode for EVERY SINGE WEEKDAY of the Year! Even Telanovela’s end or have cycles.

If American soaps only aired in cycles or seasons, they’d A) have twice the money per episode and B)twice the time to develop really amazing material, and end each cycle with a HUGE cliffhanger that would make people desperate to catch the premiere of the next cycle. I’m just saying. The current slate of soaps will disappear, but I have a feeling that something scripted will eventually come along to revolutionize the genre in a dramatic way.

Craig • on May 5, 2010 5:46 pm

I like him but I won’t be watching, I have ordered HBO and Showtime

Joseph • on May 5, 2010 5:46 pm

I could see CBS turning back the 12:30-1 P.M. (Eastern) half-hour back to local stations and encourage them to expand their local Noon newscasts to a full hour.

Several years back, both ABC and NBC turned back the 12:30-1 P.M. half-hour to the stations, and several affiliates of those networks have expanded local Noon newscasts to a full hour.

I think there are quite a few CBS affiliates who likewise want the 12:30-1 half-hour given back to them to likewise expand their local midday news programs.

Spike • on May 5, 2010 5:46 pm

Jannonymous – you have some good points.

I’m a fan of serialized TV too, and it sucks that so many of them are disappearing, but there needed to be a huge change not only in how they’re made but also their content is.

I think they’ll need to rest and regenerate, and come back in a shorter form (30 minutes). It’s still a viable form of entertainment and employs a lot of actors and crew, but it’s going to take a visionary to lead it out of the 1980s production and 1950s writing that it’s in now.

Spike • on May 5, 2010 5:46 pm

PS: CBS is actually thinking about MORE Julie Chen?
Damn, Les, have you ever heard of nepotism?

That’s how it is when you’re sleeping with the boss (Julie Chen is Les Moonves’ wife).

Owen • on May 5, 2010 5:46 pm

CBS should reconsider and keep As the World Turns on.I sometimes watch the soap and it has gotten good with Barbara getting Henry and the other drama with Janet & Dusty and Carly or P&G move the show to NBC (They producing family movies with Walmart to air on that network) or air the show in syndication

Chris • on May 5, 2010 5:46 pm

Wow, this is a random mish-mash. What happened to the network’s plans for a daytime “She’s the Sheriff” toddler pageant smackdown intervention game show with Mr. Snuffleupagus, Connie Chung and the other girl from “Roseanne”?

cristina costa • on May 5, 2010 5:46 pm

Would love to be a part of this show!! What do I have to do to get in the audience!!!

Jamie • on May 5, 2010 5:46 pm

Chalk this one up to “ignore” for me. How ignorant would CBS be to put on a cooking game show. I just assume watch a lame soap.